Air valve



June 22 1926. 1,589,471

N. HUBBARD AIR VALVE Filed June 6, 1925 INVENTOR Fig.4.

HM a

WTTORNEYJ.

Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES NORMAN HUBBARD, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

AIR VALVE.

Application filed June 6, 1925. Serial No. 35,452.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic air relief valve wherein, a valve, adapted to close by gravity, is prevented from closing against the escape of cool air, by an obstruction removable by heat or water. The invention comprises a thermostat member controlling the seating of the said valve which may attain its maximum expansion due to the rise in temperature without encountering a fixed resistance, and a float member also controlling the seating of the valve so that either an excess of heat or an excess of water may act to allow the valve to close. The invention also comprises a siphon tube in one continuous piece flanged at one end to retain it in place and allow the tube to revolve while disposed entirely outside the valve chamber.

My invention relates particularly to that type of air valve commonly used to relieve steam radiators of air, but it will be understood that the basic principle of my invention, set forth and described in the foregoing is applicable to other uses.

An important object of my invention is to provide means of actuation, unaffected by wear or repeated and continuous operation.

Another important object of my invention is to simplify the commercial production of this type of air valve.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one method of accomplishing my purpose, and wherein.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device with valve held open for the escape of air.

Figure 2 is a vertical section with valve closed by heat against the escape of steam; the same condition as shownin Figure 2 will obtain when water is present in the device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the float pedestal and expansion member retainer.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the expansion member.

In the adaptation of my invention shown in the drawings, 1 represents the case or float chamber of an air valve, 2 designai es a top member, adapted to fit the valve case and to be secured thereto by an approved method, and from which a turret 3 projects vertically terminating in a shallow cone forming a seat for a ball valve 4. A screw threaded cap 5 mounted on the turret forms an auxiliary chamber 6 in which the ball 4 has a restricted motion. An axial port 7 extends downward from the apex of the cone terminating in a transverse port 8, opening to the atmosphere. Another port 9 parallels the axis of the turret from top to bottom and forms a passage from the valve case to the turret chamber. A third passage 10, paralleling the axis of the turret, forms a guide for a plunger 11.

The ball valve 4 loosely contained in the auxiliary chamber 6, is adapted to rest by gravity in the shallow cone and close the valve against pressure from within, and from pressure from without owing to the weight of the ball.

. The numeral 12 designates a lever, re-

volvable about a fulcrum 13, having one end attached to the plunger 11 and the other to a float 14 which is loosely disposed in the valve body 1.

The numeral 15 designates a I combined pedestal for the float 14 and retainer for the expansion member 16. The pedestal shown clearly in Figure 3 has the float supporting legs which at their lower extremities have bent out edges for this purpose. The effect of water entering the float chamber 1 is to raise the float 14, move the lever 12 to lower the plunger 11, and permit the valve 4 to seat by gravity inthe shallow cone, to close the ports 7 and 8 against the escape of water.

The numeral 16 designates an expansion member adapted to increase in height upon an increase of temperature, as a means to raise the float 14, move the lever 12, lower the plunger 11, and permit the valve 4 to seat by gravity in the shallow cone, to close the ports 7 and 8 against the escape of steam. The expansion member is shown as comprised of a multiple of sections of commercial thermostat metal, each bent to form a U with one leg longer than the other, that component of the thermostat metal having greater coefficient of expansion being on the inside in each case, so that the effect .of

heat upon the ensemble is to cause the legs of the U shaped sections to separate, increasing the total height. It will be understood that other forms of expansion members adaptable to the same purpose may be used. It will be observed that the thermostat never has to-meet any fixed resistance which might unduly strain it. When the valve seats the thermostat may continue to expand.

Tlie siphon tube 17 I prefer to make with an integral flanged inner end 18. A nipple 19 is attached to the outside of the case i and forms the means of attachment to the radiator. The inner end of the nipple is enlarged sufliciently to provide a pocket in which the flanged end of the siphon is confined with suflicient freedom of motion to allow the siphon to freely revolve. 'lhe flange or" the siphon is thus confined between the nipple and the-outer wall of the case 1, the orifice 20 in the case being of such size and shape that the flange will be kept entirely outside of the case.

I claim l. ln-an air valve, a float-chamber, a float and a thermostat therein, an auxiliary chamber in communication with the float chamber and having an opening leading to the atmosphere, a gravity valve closing on said opening and means operated by the float for unseating the valve when the float is lowered by the escape of water or the cooling of the thermostat.

2. ln-an air valve, a float-chamber, a float therein, the said float adapted to be raised by "the accumulation of water in the chamber, an auxiliary chamber having passages leading to the float chamber and to the atmosphere, a ball valve for closing the atmospheric passage, and means operable by the float for rockingthe ball on itsseat to open or close the same.

3. In an air valve, a float chamber, a float and a thermostat therein, the said float adapted to be raised by the accun'iulation of water in the chamber or by the expansion of the thermostat, an auxiliary chamber having passages leading to the float chamber and to the atmosphere, a ball valve for closing the atmospheric passage. and means operatable by the float for moving the ball to open or close the same.

4. In an air valve, the combination comprising a float chamber, a float movable vertically therein, a superposed chamber on top oi the float chamber and in communication there-with, a ball valve loosely confined in said superposed chamber, and having a concave seat, a rocking lever above the float having one end adapted to engage the float and the other end operate on the ball valve whereby when the float moves downwart the ball valve will be unseated.

5. In an air valve, the combination conn prising a float chamber, a float movable vertically therein, a superposed chamber on top of the float chamber and. in communication therewith, a ball valve loosely confined in said superposed chamber, and having a concave seat, a rocking lever mechanism above the float having-one end adapted to engage the float and the other end operate on one side of the ball valve whereby when the float moves downward the ball valve will be rocked off its seat.

6. In an air valve, a float chamber, a float and a thermostat therein, the said float adapted to be raised by the accumulation of water in the chamber or by the expansion ofthe thermostat, an auxiliary chamber having passages leadin'gto the floatchamber and to the atmosphere, a ball valve for closing the atmospheric: passage. and means operatable by the float for moving the ball to open or close the same, and a member supporting the float and acting as a retaining member tor the thermostat.

7. In an air valve, a float'chamber, a siphon tube having at its inner end an expanded flange and an inlet nipple having an enlarged part secured to the outer Wall of the float chamber and forming with the said wall a pocket for loosely holdingth'e flanged end of the siphon tube.

8. In an air reliel valve for steam radiators, the combination comprising a valve case, a valve closing by gravity to prevent the escape of steam from said case, a weight adapted to cause the opening of the valve, and a thermostat adapted'when cold to allow said weight to open the valve and when hot to lift the weight so that the valve may close.

9. In an air relief valve for steam radiators, the combination comprising a valve case, a valve closing by gravity to prevent the escape of steam from said case, a weight adapted -to cause the opening of the valve. and a thermostat adapted when cold to allow said weight to open the valve and when hot to lift the weight so that the valve may close, the said thermostat after the valve has seated having freedom of further expansion wi hout meeting further resistance.

'10. In an air relief valve for steam radiators, the combination comprising a valve case, a valve closing by gravity to prevent the escape of steam from said case, a weight adapted to cause the-opening of the valve, a float in the case which in its upper position allows the valve to close, and a thermostat adapted when cold to allow said: weight to open the valve and when hot to lift the weight so that the valve may close, the said thermostat after the valve has seated having freedom of further exp ansion wit-hout "meeting further resistance. 1

NORMAN HUBBARD. 

